What Causes Thyroid Problems?

The biggest question after discovering you have a thyroid
condition is: What causes thyroid problems?

My own saga started when I had a blood test taken by my
gynecologist to check for anemia; the results came back proving I wasn't
anemic, but my TSH was 7.35. I had no idea what that meant until he said it
appeared I had hypothyroidism, and he referred me to an endocrinologist.

I went home, turned on my computer and did a bunch of research
about hypothyroidism. The first thing I discovered was that I had a few of the
symptoms of this condition.

I was tired all the time with no energy to keep
my house very orderly, which upset me because I like a tidy house.

I also wasn't thinking very clearly: I'd read a
passage from a book or website and I'd have to read it over a few times,
dissecting each part of the sentence.

Every time I opened my sliding glass door, one
or more of my fingernails would break. In fact, I noticed my fingernails were a
little brittle.

My hair was brittle, too. A strand would break
if I tugged on it too hard, not to mention it looked dry and wiry.

I was gaining weight while on my normal diet. At
first I figured it was because I was getting older and tried cutting down on my
food intake, but the weight just kept adding up no matter what food I cut back
on—even chocolate!

Those were my most troublesome symptoms. I went on to find
out that when thyroids do
develop problems, the entire body is affected. The thyroid gland controls the
body's metabolism and when people are hypo- we gain weight; when people are
hyper- we lose weight. Also, if we leave a thyroid problem untreated, other
health problems (like heart disease for example) creep up on us.

So, what I decided to do was to start this blog to put all
of my research in one place. I've covered topics of what to expect during the
first trip to the endocrinologist to the types of treatments that are available.
I've also discovered there are herbs and vitamins that can help heal the thyroid.
Also, I have discovered that we have to be our own advocate with our doctors in
treating our specific condition.

What the Thyroid Does

Here's what I found out about what the thyroid does: basically,
the thyroid creates, distributes and then stores hormones that influence the
function of every organ in the body. An example of a thyroid hormone is
Triiodothyronine, aka T3. One of the things this particular hormone does is regulate
metabolism, so when there is too much or too little in the system, the body’s
weight is affected.

Yay! Maybe if I could get my TSH at the correct level, I
could stop gaining weight.

Different Types of Thyroid Problems

The two main types of thyroid conditions are hypothyroidism
and hyperthyroidism. Of course it's only logical that each condition requires a
different treatment plan. I found out in my research that medical doctors
simply treat symptoms of a disease and as long as the symptoms are under
control, they consider the treatment a success.

This is all well and good, but sometimes there is an
underlying cause for developing hypo- and hyperthyroidism. Like Hashimoto's thyroiditis
and Graves ' disease respectively. This is where holistic practitioners come onto
the scene. They believe in treating these autoimmune diseases with natural
foods and herbs and have had success in curing each condition.

As long as the root cause of thyroid problems exists, medical
doctors will keep on treating the symptoms. If the root cause is cured—well
then, on to a drug-free life. Of course, I believe in working with both kinds
of practitioners until optimal health is reached.

I hope this page has in some way helped, and I invite you to
keep readingthe research I've put
together about thyroid problems and solutions. My next article is about my first endocrinologist's visit and what to expect. I hope you'll find something useful in it.

Test Yourself: The Barnes Basal Temperature Test

My new book, Life is Making the Pieces Fit: how to be who you were meant to be, has nothing to do with thyroids, but the contents within are aimed to help with many aspects of life including mental and physical health. I'd be honored if you'd check it out!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I may use personally and/or believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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